Series lighting



April 19, 1938. J. A. TREMBLAY SERIES LIGHTING Filed June 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. L1. fl'emcflf/zy, BY

310 101 NW M 171s ATTORNEYS April 19, 1938.

J. L. A. TREMBLAY ,114,511

SERIES LIGHTING Filed June 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. 10550]! 1,1,7. 7}'c'11//u 7,

1115 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to series lighting and embodies, more specifically, a mechanism by means of which series lighting circuits may be maintained in operative condition regardless of the failure of one or more of the individual lighting units in the series circuit. More particularly, the invention embodiesan improved mechanism by means of which a faulty unit may be cut out of the series circuit and the circuit automatically re-established in order to prevent continued failure thereof.

Instead of, as heretofore, removing the removable socket, unscrewing the bad lamp and replacing it with a good lamp, removing the burnt out disc and replacing the same, and inserting the whole assembly into the adapter, whereby it is automatically placed in service, the present invention provides a mechanism by means of which it is only necessary to unscrew the bulb and replace it with a new one, the short-circuiting or cut-out mechanism in the socket serving to maintain the circuit closed while the bulb is out.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved series lighting mechanism by means of which a series lighting circuit may be maintained in operative condition in an effective and inexpensive manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light bulb for use in series lighting circuits which is provided with an improved short-circuiting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light bulb of the above character, in the structure of which is incorporated an improved short-circuiting mechanism.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, where- 40 Figure 1 is a view in section, taken through the axis of a light bulb constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation, taken from the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a partial view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a partial View similar to Figure 1 showing a further modification of the invention;

Figure 6 is a view in section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a view in front elevation showing a further modified form of the short-circuiting mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a View in section, taken on line 9-9 of Figure '7, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 10 is a plan view of the insulating disc shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9.

With reference to the above drawings and particularly the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a light bulb is illustrated as having a glass evacuated portion II and a threaded base portion I2. The glass portion II is of usual construction and provided with a central stem I3 through which lead wires I4 and I5 extend. The filament is connected to the lead wires in the usual manner, the outer ends of the wires being connected to the base portion of the light bulb in the manner now to be described.

The base portion I2 consists of an inner threaded shell I6 provided with detents H which are adapted to be received within recesses I8, formed in the restricted end portion I9 of the glass portion II. An outer shell 20 is threaded over the inner shell I6 and serves to clamp the detent H in the recess I8, thus anchoring the base portion to the glass portion. The outer shell 20 is provided with an insulating button 2I which carries a central contact plate 22 to which the lead wire I4 is soldered. The other lead wire I5 is connected to the inner shell I6 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Across the midportion of the inner shell I 6 is provided a bridge member 23 upon which is formed a reversely bent flanged portion 24. This reversely bent portion is provided with spaced ears 25 which are struck up to receive and position a short-circuiting disc 26 of standard form. This short circuiting disc may be formed of copper oxide upon opposite sides of which are small aluminum discs. There are obviously many forms of such discs now available. The flange 25 may be apertured at 21 to receive the side of the disc 26 opposite from the cars 25 and thus more effectively seat the disc in the position illustrated.

Upon the lead I4 is secured a contact plate 28 which is formed with a detent 29 to be received within a recess 30, formed in an insulating block 3|. The upper portion of the flange 24 is provided with a detent 32 which is received within a recess 33 formed in the upper portion of the insulating block 3|.

The flanged member 24 is preferably sufficiently yielding to permit the elements to be assembled in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, in order that the plate 28 may be maintained in efiective contact with the short-circuiting disc 26. In this fashion, when the filament burns out, the short-circuiting disc is fused and current flows from the lead l4 through plate 28, disc 26, bridge 23, and inner shell Hi to the outer shell 20.

In the construction shown in Figure 4, the short-circuiting mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has been placed within the lamp bulb and mounted upon the leads I4 and 15. When a burned-out filament is to be replaced in the bulb shown in Figure 4, stem [3 and leads are removed, the short-circuiting disc replaced, and a new filament installed. The stem is then replaced in the bulb, fused and evacuated in accordance with well recognized operations.

In the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the invention has been shown as embodied in a lamp bulb having a base which is cemented to the' glass portion II by means of cement 35 and lead l5 connected to the shell of the base as illustrated at 36. Lead I4 is connected to the central contact 22 as illustrated in Figure l, and is provided with the contact plate 28 as previously described. The base 34 is provided with a strip 31 which may be turned inwardly from the dotted position shown in Figure 5 to the full line position wherein the short-circuiting device is received within the base. To this end the strip is formed with a reversely extending flange 38, similar to the flange 34 in Figure 1, and the insulating block 3| is provided between the extremity of flange 38 and the plate 28. In order that the short circuiting disc may be secured more effectively in position, spaced ears 39 may be provided at each side of the strip 31, as illustrated in Figure 6.

In the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the short-circuiting disc is replaced by removing the base from the glass portion of the bulb in an obvious manner.

In the construction shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, a modified form of short-circuiting device is illustrated, such device comprising a strip 40 which corresponds to strip 31 in the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6. This strip is provided with ears 4| similar to ears 39 in Figures 5 and 6 and formed with a reversely extending flanged portion 42 having downwardly extending ears 43 at either side thereof. Ears 43 are received within notches 44, formed in the corners of an insulating block 45. A plate 46, corresponding to plate 28 in Figures 1 through 6, is provided with ears 4! which extend upwardly and are received within notches 48 formed in the insulating block 45. The elements are thus effectively assembled as illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, the short-circuiting disc 26 being mounted between plate 46 and the strip 48. It will obviously be necessary to form the ears 43 and 4'! in such fashion as to prevent contact between the plate 46' and flange 42, as illustrated in Fig ure 9.

It will thus be seen that an improved device has been provided by means of which light bulbs for series lighting circuits may be quickly and inexpensively replaced and renewed, the structure being adapted to be mounted either in the base or within the glass portion of the light bulb.

Inasmuch as provision is made for holding the parts effectively in the assembled position, vibration and other disturbing influences fail to dislodge the elements and prevent faulty operation.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited. save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A series circuit lamp having a short-circuiting device formed with spaced contact members comprising elements connected to the respective members, a short-circuiting disc carried by one of the elements, means formed on the said one of the elements to urge the other element into contact with the disc, and means to insulate the last named means from the said other element.

2. A series circuit lamp having a short-circuiting device formed with spaced contact members comprising elements connected to the respective members, a short-circuiting disc carried by one of the elements, means formed on the said one of the elements to urge the other element into contact with the disc, means to insulate the last named means from the said other element, and interengaging means between the insulating means and the said other element to maintain the same in assembled relationship.

3. A series circuit lamp having a short-circuiting device formed with spaced contact members comprising elements connected to the respective members, a short-circuiting disc carried by one of the elements, a reversely extending flange formed on said one of the elements, and an insulating member between the flange and the other element to urge the other element into engagement with the disc.

4. A series circuit lamp having a short-circuiting device formed with spaced contact members comprising elements connected to the respective members, a short-circuiting disc carried by one of the elements, a reversely extending flange formed on said one of the elements, an insulat ing member between the flange and the other element to urge the other element into engagement with the disc, ears on the said one of the ele-' ments to position the insulating disc, and ears in the flange and other of the elements to position the same with respect to the insulating member.

5. A series circuit lamp having a short-circuiting device formed with spaced contact members comprising elements connected to the respective members, a short-circuiting disc carried by one of the elements, a reversely extending flange formed on said one of the elements, an insulating member between the flange and the other element to urge the other element into engagement with the disc, ears on the said one of the elements to position the insulating disc, and ears in the flange and other of the elements to position the same with respect to the insulating member, said insulating member being formed with spaced notches to receive the ears.

6. In combination with a series lighting lamp a bulb having a base and a globe portion, leads carried by the globe, a plate connected to one lead, a strip connected to the other lead and having a reversely extending flange, an insulating block removably mounted between the flange and plate, and a short-circuiting disc removably mounted between the plate and strip.

7. In combination with a series lighting lamp a bulb having a base and a globe portion, a strip formed out of the metal of the base and having a reversely extending flange, a plate on a lead of a reversely extending flange, a plate on a lead of the bulb, an insulating block between the plate and the flange, interengaging means between the block and the plate and flange, and a short-circuiting disc carried by the strip and lying be- 5 tween the strip and the plate.

JOSEPH L. A. TREMBLAY. 

